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ARMENIANS GET INSIGHTS INTO DIRECT DEMOCRACY
SwissInfo, Switzerland
Oct 27 2014
By Renat Kuenzi, swissinfo.ch
"Urir Jorowrtawarutiun", "Chorherdaran", "Federal Tun" - wrapping my
ears around the Caucasian storm of consonants, sibilants and throaty
noises that interpreter Lusine Shahraymanyan is dictating to me
syllable by syllable is proving quite a challenge. In Armenian, these
are the terms for direct democracy, parliament and parliament building.
"Not with "r", but stronger, with "ch" -Uchich Jochowchtawachutiun,"
corrects Shahraymanyan, as she looks down at what I've written down
in my notebook.
Shahraymanyan was part of an eight-person delegation of the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) from
Armenia that visited Germany and Switzerland in September 2014.
The group included representatives from parliament, the
government and civil society and was escorted by Bruno Kaufmann,
the Scandinavian-based radio correspondent for Swiss Television and
Radio, president of the Initiative and Referendum Institute (IRI)
and editor of the Internet platform "People2Power".
Interpreter Lusine Shahraymanyan was particularly challenged in a
crash course on Swiss democracy led by ambassador Claudio Fischer
(swissinfo.ch)
The aim of the tour was for the Armenians to get a clearer picture
of the mechanisms of direct democracy in interviews with authorities,
stakeholders, and experts in Bern, the capitol of Switzerland. Their
focus was how to strengthen the political participation of citizens
in Armenia, a poor country that is also embroiled in an unresolved
conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region with Azerbaijan.
During a sightseeing tour of the parliament building, Ashot Giloyan,
head of the department of local self-government at the Ministry of
Territorial Administration, asked "Can all citizens with a Swiss
passport visit the parliament building?"
Catherine Ochsenbein who works in the parliamentary services replied
that there are six tours a week which are open to all residents,
even those without a Swiss passport.
"Everyone who lives in Switzerland should be able to visit the
parliament building at least once, " declared Ochsenbein. "This helps
strengthen the democratic values of Switzerland."
Behind the wall
Giloyan explained that in Armenia the parliament building in Yerevan
is behind a three-metre high wall. "Visits are only possible by
appointment, and the entry is restricted to a selected area at a
particular time," he declared.
Nune Hovhannisyan, a member of Armenia's seven-man central election
commission, asked about the large mural on the wall. "Is it the work
of a single artist, or were many artists involved?"
The fresco was created by an artist from German-speaking Switzerland,
explained Ochsenbein, "but artists from all regions of Switzerland
were commissioned to contribute works. The thinking behind this was
that everyone should participate and be able to identify with 'their'
country's parliament."
Democratic Ideal
Voices of the Armenian OSCE delegation
By Renat Kuenzi
Ashassi Yesayan, director of the independent centre for direct
democracy in Yerevan and initiator of the visit: "Our voting law does
not function ...
Direct democracy
"Who is the president of Switzerland? Asked another visitor, resulting
in a lengthy discussion.
The answer, that the Swiss presidency is rotated among the seven
cabinet ministers each time for a one-year term, was met with puzzled
frowns. This egalitarian set-up, with the Swiss president seen as
first among equals and also not needing any additional political
power during the term, gave way to much reflection.
Constituencies' conundrum
It was then time for ambassador Claudio Fischer, head of external
relations for the parliamentary services, to give a crash course in
Swiss democracy.
"Elections to the House of Representatives, which represents the people
in the Swiss parliament, are primarily party elections whereas those
in the Senate, which represent the cantons, are primarily elections
of the people," he explained. He added that on average a winning
candidate needs to get 40,000 votes.
Didn't such a high hurdle violate the rights of candidates from
smaller cantons? asked one visitor. On the contrary, replied Fischer.
Because constituencies are smaller, it is easier to get elected in
the less-populated cantons.
For example, in Zurich, the most populous canton with over one
million inhabitants, a candidate needs proportionally more votes to be
elected. The Armenian visitor didn't seem totally convinced, however.
Mysteries of list voting
Next, Fischer tackled the topic of "vote splitting". Not surprisingly,
the very expression evoked confusion among the Armenians. In
Switzerland, people can vote for a list of candidates from a single
party. Vote splitting, Fischer explained, allows the voter to add
preferred party candidates from competing parties, for example,
from Party Y or Party Z, to a different party's list.
The Armenians were clearly perplexed. "Vote-splitting offers the
voters the most flexibility," he went on. With the patience of the
diplomat that he is, Fischer fielded one request for clarification
after another.
Perhaps wisely, he avoided mentioning that the Swiss system also offers
voters the option of casting double votes for a preferred candidate.
After this deluge of information, it was time for some fresh air.
Political scientist and historian Claude Longchamp took the guests on
a stroll through the medieval city centre of Bern, which is a UNESCO
world heritage site.
He explained that from the time when Bern was dominated by aristocrats,
there was another, parallel growth. The federal government in
Switzerland expanded, democracy was introduced by Napoleon, and the
first federal constitution was created in 1848. At the same time a
democratic learning process unfolded.
Claude Longchamp
"A country with too much opposition is no longer governable"
By Renat Kuenzi
Excerpts from Claude Longchamp's talk on direct democracy in
Switzerland to the Armenian OSCE delegation.
Direct democracy
Bern rebel
When we reached a fountain on the Postgasse, a side street in the
old town, Longchamp returned to the present. "At 40 years of age,
this is a relatively new fountain. A Bernese artist who belonged
to the 1968 counterculture movement provided the fountain with a
staircase and a pedestal overlooking it that everyone can climb up."
Longchamp said the artist's aim was to 'do away with role models,
as we ourselves are role models'.
"So who among you is a role model?" asked Longchamp.
Novhannisyan, the central election committee member, took up the
challenge and climbed the steps of the metal ladder.
"I hope," she proclaimed, "that as an election observer I will one
day be unemployed, because direct democracy prevails in Armenia as it
does in Switzerland." Applause broke out as Shahraymanyan translated
for the non-Armenians.
Standing before the Erlacherhof, a stately building that is the
historic seat of the Bernese mayor, the Armenian guests received an
unplanned lesson in direct democracy. A series of passers-by kept
coming up to a metal mailbox mounted on the gates, removing grey
envelopes from their pockets, backpacks and purses, and putting them
in the mailbox.
As voters from the city of Bern they were casting ballots for the
upcoming federal election on September 28, in which the introduction
of a single health insurer and a tax cut for restaurants were at
stake. The Armenians seized the opportunity to film the serendipitous
scene with their mobile phones.
"Why are there bars surrounding the Erlacherhof but not in front of
the parliament building?" someone inquires. "The Erlacherhof was built
before the French Revolution and is therefore a symbol of aristocracy,
not democracy," replied Longchamp.
Armenians "inspired"
Bruno Kaufmann, who headed the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) delegation with representatives from
Armenia, spoke positively about the tour. "Modern direct democracy
is almost everywhere where representative-democratic methods are also
being introduced and tried out. The study tour with the OSCE delegation
from Armenia made it clear how different historical experiences and
geopolitical contexts affect how practical applications of the rights
of the people are implemented."
"Swiss direct democracy functions so well because long and extensive
experience with it has strengthened public confidence in government
institutions and in doing so has made comprehensive control
superfluous. In post-authoritarian societies that trust is missing.
Moreover, the numerical loss of an election or a vote is immediately
associated with the loss of basic liberties."
"The many meetings and discussions have definitely thoroughly inspired
the Armenians to continue carrying on with their work of deepening
their own democracy and to incorporate the basic experiences of
Switzerland and other democracies.
By Renat Kuenzi, swissinfo.ch , swissinfo.ch Translated from German
by Kathleen Peters
http://www.swissinfo.ch/directdemocracy/armenians-get-insights-into-direct-democracy/41082850
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
SwissInfo, Switzerland
Oct 27 2014
By Renat Kuenzi, swissinfo.ch
"Urir Jorowrtawarutiun", "Chorherdaran", "Federal Tun" - wrapping my
ears around the Caucasian storm of consonants, sibilants and throaty
noises that interpreter Lusine Shahraymanyan is dictating to me
syllable by syllable is proving quite a challenge. In Armenian, these
are the terms for direct democracy, parliament and parliament building.
"Not with "r", but stronger, with "ch" -Uchich Jochowchtawachutiun,"
corrects Shahraymanyan, as she looks down at what I've written down
in my notebook.
Shahraymanyan was part of an eight-person delegation of the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) from
Armenia that visited Germany and Switzerland in September 2014.
The group included representatives from parliament, the
government and civil society and was escorted by Bruno Kaufmann,
the Scandinavian-based radio correspondent for Swiss Television and
Radio, president of the Initiative and Referendum Institute (IRI)
and editor of the Internet platform "People2Power".
Interpreter Lusine Shahraymanyan was particularly challenged in a
crash course on Swiss democracy led by ambassador Claudio Fischer
(swissinfo.ch)
The aim of the tour was for the Armenians to get a clearer picture
of the mechanisms of direct democracy in interviews with authorities,
stakeholders, and experts in Bern, the capitol of Switzerland. Their
focus was how to strengthen the political participation of citizens
in Armenia, a poor country that is also embroiled in an unresolved
conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region with Azerbaijan.
During a sightseeing tour of the parliament building, Ashot Giloyan,
head of the department of local self-government at the Ministry of
Territorial Administration, asked "Can all citizens with a Swiss
passport visit the parliament building?"
Catherine Ochsenbein who works in the parliamentary services replied
that there are six tours a week which are open to all residents,
even those without a Swiss passport.
"Everyone who lives in Switzerland should be able to visit the
parliament building at least once, " declared Ochsenbein. "This helps
strengthen the democratic values of Switzerland."
Behind the wall
Giloyan explained that in Armenia the parliament building in Yerevan
is behind a three-metre high wall. "Visits are only possible by
appointment, and the entry is restricted to a selected area at a
particular time," he declared.
Nune Hovhannisyan, a member of Armenia's seven-man central election
commission, asked about the large mural on the wall. "Is it the work
of a single artist, or were many artists involved?"
The fresco was created by an artist from German-speaking Switzerland,
explained Ochsenbein, "but artists from all regions of Switzerland
were commissioned to contribute works. The thinking behind this was
that everyone should participate and be able to identify with 'their'
country's parliament."
Democratic Ideal
Voices of the Armenian OSCE delegation
By Renat Kuenzi
Ashassi Yesayan, director of the independent centre for direct
democracy in Yerevan and initiator of the visit: "Our voting law does
not function ...
Direct democracy
"Who is the president of Switzerland? Asked another visitor, resulting
in a lengthy discussion.
The answer, that the Swiss presidency is rotated among the seven
cabinet ministers each time for a one-year term, was met with puzzled
frowns. This egalitarian set-up, with the Swiss president seen as
first among equals and also not needing any additional political
power during the term, gave way to much reflection.
Constituencies' conundrum
It was then time for ambassador Claudio Fischer, head of external
relations for the parliamentary services, to give a crash course in
Swiss democracy.
"Elections to the House of Representatives, which represents the people
in the Swiss parliament, are primarily party elections whereas those
in the Senate, which represent the cantons, are primarily elections
of the people," he explained. He added that on average a winning
candidate needs to get 40,000 votes.
Didn't such a high hurdle violate the rights of candidates from
smaller cantons? asked one visitor. On the contrary, replied Fischer.
Because constituencies are smaller, it is easier to get elected in
the less-populated cantons.
For example, in Zurich, the most populous canton with over one
million inhabitants, a candidate needs proportionally more votes to be
elected. The Armenian visitor didn't seem totally convinced, however.
Mysteries of list voting
Next, Fischer tackled the topic of "vote splitting". Not surprisingly,
the very expression evoked confusion among the Armenians. In
Switzerland, people can vote for a list of candidates from a single
party. Vote splitting, Fischer explained, allows the voter to add
preferred party candidates from competing parties, for example,
from Party Y or Party Z, to a different party's list.
The Armenians were clearly perplexed. "Vote-splitting offers the
voters the most flexibility," he went on. With the patience of the
diplomat that he is, Fischer fielded one request for clarification
after another.
Perhaps wisely, he avoided mentioning that the Swiss system also offers
voters the option of casting double votes for a preferred candidate.
After this deluge of information, it was time for some fresh air.
Political scientist and historian Claude Longchamp took the guests on
a stroll through the medieval city centre of Bern, which is a UNESCO
world heritage site.
He explained that from the time when Bern was dominated by aristocrats,
there was another, parallel growth. The federal government in
Switzerland expanded, democracy was introduced by Napoleon, and the
first federal constitution was created in 1848. At the same time a
democratic learning process unfolded.
Claude Longchamp
"A country with too much opposition is no longer governable"
By Renat Kuenzi
Excerpts from Claude Longchamp's talk on direct democracy in
Switzerland to the Armenian OSCE delegation.
Direct democracy
Bern rebel
When we reached a fountain on the Postgasse, a side street in the
old town, Longchamp returned to the present. "At 40 years of age,
this is a relatively new fountain. A Bernese artist who belonged
to the 1968 counterculture movement provided the fountain with a
staircase and a pedestal overlooking it that everyone can climb up."
Longchamp said the artist's aim was to 'do away with role models,
as we ourselves are role models'.
"So who among you is a role model?" asked Longchamp.
Novhannisyan, the central election committee member, took up the
challenge and climbed the steps of the metal ladder.
"I hope," she proclaimed, "that as an election observer I will one
day be unemployed, because direct democracy prevails in Armenia as it
does in Switzerland." Applause broke out as Shahraymanyan translated
for the non-Armenians.
Standing before the Erlacherhof, a stately building that is the
historic seat of the Bernese mayor, the Armenian guests received an
unplanned lesson in direct democracy. A series of passers-by kept
coming up to a metal mailbox mounted on the gates, removing grey
envelopes from their pockets, backpacks and purses, and putting them
in the mailbox.
As voters from the city of Bern they were casting ballots for the
upcoming federal election on September 28, in which the introduction
of a single health insurer and a tax cut for restaurants were at
stake. The Armenians seized the opportunity to film the serendipitous
scene with their mobile phones.
"Why are there bars surrounding the Erlacherhof but not in front of
the parliament building?" someone inquires. "The Erlacherhof was built
before the French Revolution and is therefore a symbol of aristocracy,
not democracy," replied Longchamp.
Armenians "inspired"
Bruno Kaufmann, who headed the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) delegation with representatives from
Armenia, spoke positively about the tour. "Modern direct democracy
is almost everywhere where representative-democratic methods are also
being introduced and tried out. The study tour with the OSCE delegation
from Armenia made it clear how different historical experiences and
geopolitical contexts affect how practical applications of the rights
of the people are implemented."
"Swiss direct democracy functions so well because long and extensive
experience with it has strengthened public confidence in government
institutions and in doing so has made comprehensive control
superfluous. In post-authoritarian societies that trust is missing.
Moreover, the numerical loss of an election or a vote is immediately
associated with the loss of basic liberties."
"The many meetings and discussions have definitely thoroughly inspired
the Armenians to continue carrying on with their work of deepening
their own democracy and to incorporate the basic experiences of
Switzerland and other democracies.
By Renat Kuenzi, swissinfo.ch , swissinfo.ch Translated from German
by Kathleen Peters
http://www.swissinfo.ch/directdemocracy/armenians-get-insights-into-direct-democracy/41082850
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress